Expanding running board rack



Nov. 10, 1931. R. A. SCHWARTZ y 1,831,266

A EXPANDING RUNIIG BOARD RACK Filed May 23, 1929 atentecl Nov. 10, 193i UNITED STA-TES ROBERT SCHWARTZ, OFA CLEVELAND, OHIO EXPANDING RUNNING BOARD RACK v Appneation mea May as, 1929. Aserial Np. 365,389.

This invention relates to improvements eX- panding running board rack, and has for its object the provision of a serviceable and 1n V expensive rack adapted for permanent attachment to therunning board of an automobile, and one equipped with means for insuring a considerable measure of expansion laterally, and additional means for vfolding the rack into inoperative position and holding it beneath the running board.

Racks of the same general character prev1- ously have been devised, but none of which I am aware is provided with' means a'fi'ording the wide measure of expansion and support that I have provided in my improved rack, association with spring members for limiting the expansion and preventing rattling while theautomobile is under way.

Briefly describing the rack of myinvention,

I may statethat it comprises a r`i'rame, pref erably of latticed metallic construction, having extended U-shaped clips adapted to take over and under the edge of the associated running board. This frame is provided with a plurality of hinges positioned below the plane of the running board, and a plurality of springs are provided normally to hold the U-shaped clips in close engagement with the edge of the running board. Upon these hinges, however, said frame is adapted to be rotated approximately through 270 into parallelism with, and beneath the running board so that retaining members may hold the frame retired from sight.

Details of my improved construction, together with the advantages and utilities thereof may be best explained in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, wherein:

Figure l is a side view in elevation, centrally broken away, illustrating a portion of an automobile running board with the improved rack of my invention in operative position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view in line with one of the spring members, the casing of which is partially broken away 5 Fig. 3 is another transverse sectional view 50 illustrating the position of the parts either for engaging or releasing the U-shaped supporting clip with or from the edge of the ruiming board, and p Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing the rackffoldedl and secured beneath the running board. p

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, ythev same character of reference is einployed to indicatepsimilar parts. r

In all of the figures a'running board is conventionally shown at a, with which my expansiblerack is associated. The lframe, comprising the effective side member of the rack, may be of such length as desired, and it is constructed, preferably, of riveted horizontal7 vertical and diagonal' metal straps, b and o. Upon the lower horizontal member b there are provided a plurality of riveted and elongated U-shaped clips c, n

adapted normally to engage snugly above and below the edge of the running board atV and hold the frame in perpendicular relation therewith'while permitting considerable lateral movement of the frame relative to the running board. Handles d advantageously may be secured adjacent to these clips.

A secondary horizontal' member e is riveted to the uprights b for mounting the frame in a folding position V below the plane of the running boar-d5 anda pluarlity of hinges e"v having their axes parallel to the longitudinal aXes of the trame and running board, are provided for this purpose. There are also provided a plurality of spring-cases f bolted beneath the running board by bolts/i and respectively containing springs 7C anchored between the bolts 7,.gf the latterconnecting said springs withthe longitudinal bar g and the hinges e,in each cased."l

As vthus constructed and equipped, the frame is adapted to beresiliently held in perpendicular relation with .therunning board by means of the U-shaped clips and coacting springs, and these members afford a substantial lateralexpansion, measured by the length of theclips, for increasing the carrying capacity of the rack. .For thedevice shown, this expansion is ,slightly less than is ein dicated by theV relation of theparts in Fig. 3, wherein the clips are shown in` released position beyond the edge of the ruiming board. This is the position in which the rack may be released and folded beneath the running board, as shown in Fig. 4.

Thus, by bodily turning the frame laterally upon its hinges relative to the running board approximately through an arc ot' 270With slight retraction of the springs, as Well, said frame is completely retired from View, and the angle-catches 7L, tensioned by springs 7L are held beneath the outer vertical straps b', and serve to retain the rack in its inoperative or non-carrying position, until again required for use. Merely by giving the angle-catches a quarter turn by means of their handles L, the frame immediately is released, and it may be adjusted in its original carrying position.

The importance of the U-shaped clips, or their` equivalents, in association with the coacting springs, for maintaining the rack from tilting or bulging with expanded, or heavy loads, will be appreciated.y Moreover, these clips are completely disengaged from and retired beneath the running board, when the rack is not in use.

Having now described the structure embodying my invention in its present preferred form, I claim afsncW and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

l. In an eXpansible rack for ruiming boards, the combination With said running board, of a rigid'side frame member normally located at the side edge of the ruiming board, a plurality or' elongated U-sliaped clips fitting over the edge and engaging the upper and under surfaces ot the. running board, coacting springs mounted on the under surface of the running" board and connected With the side frame member for holding the same in normal position, and hinge members located at the connection between the springs and the side frame member, the axes of the hinge members being parallel with the longitudinal axes` of the running board and the side frame member, whereby the side frame member may be removed from the U-clip engagement With the running board and rotated laterally beneath the'running board. y

2. In a rack for running boards,tlie coinbination with said running board, of a. side frame member normally located at the side edge of the running board, a running board mounting for the side frame member including intermediate hinged connections, Where-V bv the side frame member-may be rotated from normal position to a position beneathA the running board, and releasable retaining means mounted on the running 'board and extending fromthe under surface to the upper surface operable from the upper surface for maintaining the side frame member in position beneath the running board.

3."In combination with an automobile running board, a rack including a rigid side' frame normally located at the side edge oic the running board, means detachable by lateral movement of the side frame Jfor connecting the side frame to the edge of the running board in perpendicular relation to the plane thereof, spring means mounted on the under su'rfaceof'the running board and connected with the side frame for normally urging the side frame toward the side edge of the running board, and hinge means connected to the side frame for swinging the side frame bodily about an axis parallel with the longitudinal axes of the side frame and running board to fold the side frame beneath the running board.

4.' In combination with an automobile running board, af rack including a rigid side frame normally located at'the side edge of the running board, means detachable by lateral movement of the sidey frame for connecting the side frame to the edge of" the running board in perpendicular relation to the plane thereof, spring means mounted on the under surface of the running board and con-- nected with the side frame for normally urging the side frame toward the side edge of theV ruiming board, hingeineans connected to the side frame for swinging the side frame bodily about an axis parallel with the longitudinal axes of the sideframe and ruiming board to told the side frame beneath the running board, and releasable retaining means mounted on and` extending through the running board and opera-ble from the upper surface thereof for maintaining the side frame in position beneath the running board. In testimony whereof I do noW al'liX my signature.

ROBERT A. SCHWARTZ.

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